COVID-19 Vaccination: Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in Connecticut?
All individuals age 16 and older who live, work, or attend school in Connecticut became eligible to receive the vaccine as of April 1, 2021.
How can I get the vaccine?
There are a number of websites where you can make an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine, including Yale New Haven Health, which has vaccination locations throughout Connecticut. Due to overwhelming demand, you are encouraged to be patient and persistent, and to check back frequently at multiple sites, including pharmacies and the state’s Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS). You can also call the state’s Vaccine Appointment Assist Line at 877-918-2224. Appointments will continue to be added based on available supply.
Which COVID-19 vaccines are available from Yale Medicine/Yale New Haven Health?
Yale New Haven Health System (YNHHS) is administering the Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines as allocations allow. Which vaccine is administered on a specific day, at a specific site, is based on supply allocation. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines use messenger RNA (mRNA) technology to deliver instructions to the body’s immune system. Two shots are required, given three to four weeks apart. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a single dose vaccine—only one shot is required. It is a more traditional viral vector vaccine—the same type of vaccine that's used against the flu every year. It uses a disabled adenovirus, which is NOT a live virus and will not give you a viral infection. All three vaccines are highly effective, and individuals are advised to get the first one that is available to them.
I’m concerned that these vaccines were rushed. Isn’t it risky to take a vaccine that is new and that was developed so quickly?
The vaccines, which all received emergency use authorization from the FDA, had to meet the agency’s rigorous scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality. They were developed quickly, in part, because of the unprecedented allocation of funding and resources by governments and companies around the world. In addition, the science behind the vaccines had a head start. Researchers had already made progress developing vaccines for other types of coronaviruses, and they applied lessons learned after the 2003 SARS epidemic and the 2012 MERS outbreak. They also learned a lot from creating a vaccine for Ebola, which is not a coronavirus but has taught us more about viruses.
I’ve heard that these vaccines can cause health problems such as infertility, Bell’s palsy, or autoimmune disease.
Very large vaccine studies, with over 70,000 people, have shown the vaccines are extremely safe. There is a great deal of misinformation regarding COVID vaccines and infertility; the three vaccines have not been shown to have any impact on fertility, according to medical experts. As of mid-April, YNHHS has safely administered more than 250,000 vaccine doses, and nationally more than 190 million doses have been given. It is more important than ever to get vaccinated, as we are seeing negative long-term effects of COVID-19 infections, including lung, brain, and heart damage.
Can the vaccine cause COVID-19?
The COVID-19 vaccines do NOT contain live virus and cannot cause COVID-19. Vaccines tell your immune system how to spot a protein on the virus that causes COVID-19 and create an "army" to attack it. When your body sees the protein from the vaccine again, either with a second vaccine dose or from infection, your "army" attacks it. If you get fevers, chills, and muscle aches a couple of days after a second vaccine dose, it is a sign that the vaccine is working but you are NOT actually sick. You can take Tylenol or Motrin for these symptoms.
Can I be vaccinated if I have allergies to foods, medications, or other vaccines?
Of the first 20 million people vaccinated in the U.S., only 21 people had severe allergic reactions. This is very rare. We recommend that most people with allergies get vaccinated.
I’ve already had COVID-19. Do I still need to get vaccinated?
If you’ve had a COVID-19 infection, you should still be vaccinated. Antibody protection after getting COVID-19 only lasts a few months. It is not permanent. Studies have shown that the vaccine still provides necessary protection for those who have had COVID-19.
Can women who are pregnant or nursing get the vaccine?
If you are pregnant and/or nursing and you want the vaccine, you can get it. In most cases (based upon consultation with your doctor), vaccination is advisable. Pregnant women are at very high risk for severe illness from COVID-19. They are also at high risk for preterm birth and stillbirth if they get COVID-19. Women should discuss the risks and benefits of vaccination with their doctor.
Can people with weakened immune systems get the vaccine? What about people with chronic medical conditions?
The COVID-19 vaccines do NOT contain live virus and cannot cause COVID-19. So, there are no safety concerns in immunocompromised people. This is important because immunocompromised people are at high risk for severe COVID-19 disease. So, it is especially important for people with weakened immune systems to be vaccinated.
Similarly, people with chronic medical conditions like diabetes and heart disease are at high risk for severe COVID-19 infection, so it is critically important for them to be vaccinated as well.
Do I still have to wear a mask even after I’ve been vaccinated?
After you've been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you should keep taking precautions—like wearing a mask in public places, staying six feet apart from others, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces—until we know more about how the vaccine affects the transmission of the disease. However, those who are fully vaccinated CAN gather inside a home or private setting without a mask with other fully vaccinated people, according to the CDC. They can also visit inside a home or private setting without a mask with one household of unvaccinated people who are not at risk for severe illness. You are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or two weeks after receiving the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine. If you don’t meet those requirements, you are NOT fully vaccinated.